Thread parting and clamping mechanism



1965 G. CADORETTE 3,200,851

THREAD PARTING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 17, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet1 1/ "r' MAW? Q INVENTOR.

GEO R6 E CH DORETTE. 27m [1 Qua/Law A TTORNE Y Aug. 17, 1965 G.CADORETTE THREAD PARTING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledFeb. 17, 1964 INVENTOR. GEORGE CR DORETTE 5% QMM A TTORNE Y 1965 e.CADORETTE 3,200,851

THREAD PARTING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 17, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet3 INVENTOR. GEORGE CRDOREZTTE.

2 M wmmw A TTORNE Y United States Patent Olfice 3,200,851 TIHREADPARTHNG AND CLAMPENG MEQHANESM George Cadorette, ltlopedale, Mass,assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of MaineFiled Fair. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 345,459 4 Qlaims. (til. l39-2o3) Thisinvention pertains to automatic filling replenishing looms and moreparticularly, to a thread parting and clamping mechanism for parting andholding the incoming filling ends extending from the batteries of suchlooms.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a combined threadparting and clamping device for cutting and holding the end of fillingof the package to be transferred into a loom shuttle.

It is a further object of the invention to improve the quality of thefabric being woven by eliminating the possibility of drag-ins throughuse of applicants novel thread parting and clamping mechanism.

it is a still further object to provide such a mechanism which, in onedirection of movement of the actuating rod to which it is attached, willopen to release the previous cut filling end and then receive, cut andclamp the next filling end of the package to be transferred.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following more detailed disclosure.

Looms of the automatic filling replenishing type to which the instantinvention is applicable have a reciprocating lay, shuttle boxes at eachend thereof, and a filling replenishing mechanism including a magazinecontaining a plurality of reserve filling bobbins. A filling end holderremotely disposed from and axially aligned with the magazine serves as ameans for attaching the ends of filling of the reserve filling bobbinsawaiting transfer into a loom shuttle.

Operation of the filling replenishing mechanism in looms of the typedescribed above forms an incoming filling end which extends from thecloth selvage to the filling end holder and an outgoing filling endextending from the cloth selvage to the mechanism for parting saidoutgoing filling adjacent to the shuttle.

A temple thread cutter is adapted in a known manner to sever both theoutgoing and incoming filling ends adjacent the cloth selvage and theoutgoing filling end, after being severed adjacent the shuttle, is freeto fall away from the lay or may be removed by means of one of the knownforms of thread clearers.

Prior to the instant invention the incoming filling end remainedattached to the filling end holder for a plurality of picks after theactuation of the replenishing mechanism to keep the filling undersufiicient tension to assure proper operation of the loom. With theknown types of thread parting mechanisms such as those disclosed in U.S. Patents 2,287,666 and 2,341,839, the incoming filling end would firstbe parted at the cloth selvage and then at a pointadjacent the fillingend holder. These ends not being cut simultaneously allowed that endwhich was first severed at the cloth selvage to fall downwardly andbefore being cut adjacent the filling end holder and discarded by athread remover if one were utilized, the dangling filling end has beenknown on many occasions to have become entangled with the moving lay andcomponent parts thereof resulting in said end breaking and being carriedinto the fabric. A condition of this nature is considered very serioussince a great deal of time is required to remove these broken ends andan excessive number thereof results in fabric of inferior quality.

The thread parting and clamping mechanism according to the instantinvention is constructed and arranged to function in conjunction with athread clearing device such as a vacuum tube to carry the severed end offilling away from the loom. The mechanism includes movable and fixedblades forming a parting and clamping unit which assembles on the end ofa pneumatically and spring controlled rod member. This rod member isadapted to move the parting and clamping unit to and away from threadparting position in timed sequence with the actuation of thereplenishing mechanism.

Upon indication for filling replenishment the shaft member is timed tostart moving the parting and clamping unit toward thread partingposition. During its initial movement a spring biased cam member isadapted to act upon a cam follower which is mechanically linked to themovable blades to open the latter and release a previous cut end offilling.

Continued movement of the unit in the direction of its initial movementcauses the linkage interconnecting the cam follower with the movableblades to act upon a a second cam which closes said movable bladescausing the same to severand clamp the incoming end of filling justprior to the actual transfer of the filling carrier into the loomshuttle. The unit then moves back to its initial position and holds thesevered end of filling between the closed blade members. The threadclearer which is in the form of a vacuum tube is effective when theincoming end of filling is severed at the cloth selvage to immediatelydraw this end into the vacuum tube and away from the moving lay andother moving loom parts associated therewith. The vacuum tube is timedto function upon indication for filling replenishment and for severalpicks thereafter or until the incoming filling end has been cut at thecloth selvage and drawn into said tube. The opposite end of the incomingfilling end is held by the closed blades of the parting and clampingunit until the next indication for filling replenishment when again thiscycle is repeated by opening the blades to permit the remaining portionof the severed filling end to be drawn through the vacuum tube and clearof the loom and move the unit to a position where it will cut and clampthe filling end of the next bobbin to be transferred.

The invention will hereinafter be described in greater detail byreference to a specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in theaccompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a parting and clamping unit accordingto the invention showing the means utilized to move said unit to andaway from thread parting position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View of the parting and clamping unit having aportion of the supporting and actuating members removed for clarity andto show the cam and linkages utilized to open the movable blade members;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 2 but showing the blademembers in an open position;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 3 but showing the blademembers in a closed position;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the cam which is effective inclosing the movable blades; and

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of the actual cutting and clamping parts.

Referring to FIG. 1, a par-ting and clamping unit of the type describedmay include a supporting bracket it) having suitable bolting slots 11for attaching said bracket to a loom. An air cylinder unit generallyindicated by numeral 12 attaches to the side of bracket 19 by means ofcap screws 13 (one only shown in FIG. 2). The air cylinder unit includesspaced head members 14 and 15 having a cylinder 16 fixedly positionedtherebetween by means of tie rods 17 interconnecting said spaced headmembers 14 and 15. As shown by the cutaway portion of FIG. 1, a piston18 is provided within the cylinder and includes a piston rod 19extending therefrom which passes through and beyond a centrally disposedaperture in head member 15 as at 29. Head member 14 is provided on itsouter end with a centrally disposed pneumatic elbow fitting 21 throughwhich air under pressure is directed to move piston 18 and rod 19 in thedirection of the indicating arrow A depicted in FIG. 1. A compressionspring 22 encircling piston rod 19 assembles within the cylinder 16intermediate the piston 18 and the head member 15 and serves as a meansfor returning said piston and retractingpsaid piston rod to theirinitial positions after having accomplished their function of moving thethread parting and clamping unit to thread parting position. The threadparting and clamping unit generally indicated by numeral 23 is fixedlyattached to that portion of piston rod 19 which protrudes from headmember 15 by means of a stud or bolt 24 and an elongated, laterallyextending stud 25. Bolt 24 also serves to support pivotable linkage forcontrolling the movable blade members which will be more fully describedhereinafter. The shank portion of stud 25 extending laterally withrespect to piston rod 19 passes through and beyond the bifurcatedportion of a guide bracket 25 which extends parallel with said rod andis attached at one side of head member 15 through utilization of tierods 17. This guide bracket 26 is effective in maintaining the partingand clamping unit on an even keel by preventing rotary migration of thepiston 18 and piston rod 19.

The thread parting and clamping members as illustrated in FIG. 6 includea relatively fixed member or blade 27 and several movable members. Theblade 27 is fixedly attached to the free end of piston rod 19 by meansof bolt 24 and stud 25. The blade is apertured at 28, this opening beingcircular with rectangular extensions as shown for a purpose to bedescribed. The blade assembly further includes a cutter 29 which isadapted to cooperate with the angularly disposed cutting portion 30 ofthe fixed blade 27. A shoulder 31 terminates the limit of the threadreceiving opening between the blades.

At the opposite side of blade 27 there is provided a fiber clampingmember 32, a combined actuating and clamping blade member 33 which isadapted to cooperate with the fiber clamping member 32. This clampingblade member 33 is provided on its upper surface with a generallycentrally disposed, integrally formed and upwardly directed extension 34which serves as a means for actuat-. ing the movable blade member andwhich will be more fully described hereinafter.

All of the movable blade members are superpositioned onto the flat-sidedend members 35 and 36 of a pivot member generally indicated by numeral37 which has a centrally disposed bearing portion 38 that is freelyrotatable Within aperture 28. The pivot member is drilled centrally forreception of a bolt 39 which clamps the movable cutter blade 29 onto end35 of the pivot.

A leaf type spring 49 is assembled between the head of bolt 39 and theblade 29 so as to enable it to be drawn up squarely against the face ofthe centrally disposed circular bearing portion 38 of the pivot.

This movable cutter blade 29 is provided with a rectangular opening 4-1which allows said blade to be freely positioned onto the end 35 of thepivot 37, but which prevents relative rotary motion between the two.

The fiber clamping member 32 and the clamping blade 33 are each providedwith rectangular openings 42 and 43, respectively, which enable them tobe positioned onto the opposite fiat-sided portion 36 of the pivot.

The circular bearing portion 38 of the pivot 37 is of slightly lesslength than the thickness of the blade 27 so that the clamping member 32and clamping blade 33 are axially tree when nut 44 is tightened on thebolt39. A second leaf type spring 45 is provided with an inturned end 46which is adapted to be received into an aperture 47 in the clampingblade 33 so that as said blade is caused .to move the spring will movewith it. Spring 40 on the opposite side of the blade assembly is alsoprovided with an inturned end 48 which is adapted to enter an aperture419 in the movable cutter blade 29 and like 45 it is caused to move withsaid movable cutter blade. When nut 44 is tightened against spring 55,the spring forces the clamping member 32 and clamping blade 33 againstthe fixed blade 27 to produce a desired amount of clamping pressure asthe movable blade members are closed. To limit the amount of movementthe movable blade members may pivot to open and close, a check membergenerally indicated by numeral 5%) is provided (FIG. 1). This checkmember assembles between the fixed blade 27 and the piston rod 19 andthat end extending beyond the latter is provided with upper and lowerlaterally extending ears 51 and 52. These ears extend above and belowthe fixed blade 27 and serve as stops against which the upper and lowersurfaces 53 and 54, respectively, of the actuating and clamping blade 33are caused to strike thereby limitting the distance the movable bladesare permitted to open and only permitting them to close to the extent ofcutting and holding the incoming filling end (FIGS. 2 and 3).

The novel means utilized to actuate the movable blades includes avertically disposed link member 55 having a fixed bolt 24 disposedintermediate its ends which assists in attaching the thread parting andclamping unit to the piston rod 19. This bolt 24 is constructed andarranged so as to permit the link member 55 to pivot in either aclockwise or anti-clockwise direction. Bolt 24 passes through alignedapertures in piston rod 19 and the blade 27 with one end thereof beingfixedly assembled, by such means as riveting, in a centrally disposedaperture 24 (FIG. 3) provided in the link member 55. A horizontallydisposed connecting link as which extends in a longitudinal directionwith respect to the parting and clamping unit is pivotally attached tothe upper end of link member 55 by means of a bolt 5'7. The opposite endof this connecting link 56 is pivotally attached to the upwardlydirected extension 34 of the clamping blade member 33 by means of a bolt58 and nut 59. The shank portion of bolt 58 passes through anappropriate aperture provided in the end of the connecting link, thencethrough a floating spacer 60, and thence through an aligned aperture 61provided in extension 34. This assembly is maintained by means of nut 59and between said nut and extension 34 there assembles a cam bumper 62the purpose of which will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The supporting bracket It) is provided with an integrally formedextension 63 which extends in spaced relationship to and parallel withthe thread parting and clamping unit 23. Adjacent the supporting bracket1%, extension 63 supports a spring biased blade opening cam generallyindicated by numeral 64. This cam is in the form of a.

double armed lever, one arm of which extends in a vertical direction andis depicted by numeral 65. The second arm indicated by numeral 66extends in a generally horizontal direction and is provided on the lowerside thereof with an arcuated camming surface 67 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Thisarcuated camming surface conforms to the outside diameter of a camfollower 68 with which it is adapted to be in contact with during theopening of the movable blade members. Cam follower 68 being in rollerform is rotatably assembled on a bolt 69 which is fixedly attached toand extends laterally from the lower end of link member 55.

Intermediate the ends of the blade opening cam 64 there is provided afixedly attached and laterally extending stud member 70 which whenassembled is caused to pass through cam positioning spacers 71 and 72(FIG. 2), thence through an appropriate aperture (not shown) inextension 63, and thence through a spring case 73 which is suitablyattached to the side of said extension 63 (FIG. 2).

A torsion type spring (not shown) encircles stud member 70 within thespring case 73 and is so constructed and arranged as to cause the bladeopening cam to be continually urged in an anti-clockwise direction asviewed from its position depicted in FIG. 2.

A stop pin 74 extending from the side of extension 63 serves as a meansfor limiting the movement of cam 64 in an anti-clockwise direction byproviding an abutment against which arm 65 is caused to bear.

A blade closing cam 75 assembles on the upper surface of the free end ofextension 63 by means of cap screws 76 and 77 and extending laterallyfrom said extension, it overlies a portion of the thread parting andclamping unit and serves to close the movable blade members in a mannerto be more fully explained.

In operation, the thread parting and clamping mechanism is positionedand arranged to cut and hold the end of filling which extends from thefilling carrier in the rotary battery to the filling end holder remotelydisposed from and axially aligned with said battery. After the transferof a bobbin into a loom shuttle, the battery is caused to move in aknown manner to place another bobbin or filling carrier in position fortransfer when the next indication for filling replenishment is given.

During this movement of the battery, the end of filling extending to theend holder from the bobbin in the battery also moves and is caused tocome to rest on and be supported by a lower finger '78 of a bifurcatedfilling support plate generally indicated by numeral 79. This supportplate assembles on the lower side of the free end of extension 63 andextending outwardly therefrom its provides a means of supporting andpositioning the incoming end of filling to be severed and held by theparting and clamp .ing mechanism.

When an indication is given for filling replenishment, a pneumatic timercauses the piston 18 and piston rod 19 to be actuated. During theinitial movement of the piston rod to its extended position, camfollower 68 which is supported by link member 55 is pushed into pressingcontact with camming surface 67 of the blade opening cam 64. Thisinitial movement causes link member 55 to pivot in an anti-clockwisedirection as seen looking from that side of the mechanism as illustratedin FIG. 2. Pivoting of the link member 55 in this direction causes theconnecting link 56 which is pivotally attached to the upper end thereofto move horizontally toward the tips of the blade members. The oppositeend of this connecting link 56 being pivotally attached to the upwardlydirected extension 34 of the clamping blade member 33 causes the latterto pivot in an anti-clockwise direction to open the movable blademembers to that position shown in FIG. 3. As the blade members areopened, they are moving to a position which places the filling end to beout between the tip portions of the fixed and movable blade members.

Continued movement of the piston rod in the direction of its initialmovement causes the spring biased blade opening cam 64 to ride up andover cam follower 68 6 (FIG. 4). This continued movement of the rodbrings the cam bumper 62 into contact With the blade closing cam toarrest the longitudinal movement of extension 34 and connecting link 56.The piston rod at this point not having reached the limit of its travelcontinues to move and pivots extension 34 to close the movable blademembers and to cut and hold the incoming end of filling.

At this point the pneumatic timer discontinues the flow of compressedair to the cylinder 16 and the piston and piston rod are returned totheir initial position by means of compression spring 22. This movementalso returns the cutting and clamping unit to its initial position alongwith the severed end of filling which it holds until the next indicationfor filling replenishment.

While one embodiment of the invention has been dis closed, it is to beunder-stood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number ofways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precisedetails described, but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications thereof falling Within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A filling end parting and clamping mechanism for automatic fillingreplenishing looms, a supporting bracket having a pneumatically andspring controlled rod member carried thereby for moving said parting andclamping mechanism to and away from filling parting position, saidparting and clamping mechanism comprising fixed and movable blademembers, means for actuating said movable blade members including a camand cam follower, pivotable link members interconnecting said camfollower with said movable blade members, said cam being effective uponsaid cam follower during the initial movement of said rod to open saidmovable blade members by means of said pivotable link members, a cambumper and a second cam effective upon said link members through contactwith said cam bumper to close said grnovable blade members as said rodmember continues to move in the direction of its initial movement.

2. A filling end parting and clamping mechanism for automatic fillingreplenishing looms, a supporting bracket having a pneumatically andspring controlled rod member carried thereby for moving said parting andclamping mechanism to and away from filling parting position, saidparting and clamping mechanism comprising relatively fixed and movableblade members, means for opening and closing said movable blade membersincluding a horizontally extending spring biased cam member, avertically disposed pivotable link member having a horizontallyextending connecting link pivotally attached to the upper end thereofand said connecting link having its opposite end pivotally attached toone of said movable blade members, a cam follower effective upon saidspring biased cam to pivot said link member and move said connectinglink in a horizontal direction to open said movable blade members, a cambumper, a fixed cam member effective in arresting movement of saidconnecting link member to close said movable blade members throughcontact with said cam bumper thereby cutting and clamping the incomingfilling end.

3. A filling end parting and clamping mechanism for automatic fillingreplenishing looms, a supporting bracket having a pneumatically andspring controlled rod member carried thereby for moving said parting andclamping mechanism to and away from filling parting position, saidparting and clamping mechanism comprising relatively fixed and movableblade members, means for opening and closing said movable blade membersincluding a horizontally extending spring biased cam member, avertically disposed pivotable link member having a horizontallyextending connecting link pivotally attached to the upper end thereofand said connecting link having its opposite end pivotally attached toone of said movable blade members, a cam follower effective upon saidspring biased cam to pivot said link member and move said connecting 7 87 link in a horizontal direction to open said movable blade ReferencesCited by the Examiner members, a cam bumper affixed to one of saidmovable UNITED STATES PATENTS blade members adjacent said opposite endof said connecting link and a fixed carn rnember adapted to arrest'-g;;i*"." movement of said cam bumper thereby being effective in 5 9/60et a1 9 the cessation of movement of said connecting link to N closesaid movable blade members and cut and clamp the FOREIGN PATENTSincoming filling end. 1,172,896 10/58 7 France 4. The structure of claim2 wherein said cam follower 312,250 5/29 Great Britain.

is rotatably assembled to the lower end of said vertically 10 I disposedpivot'able link member. 7 DGNALD PARKER Pnmary Examiner

1. A FILLING END PARTING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FILLINGREPLENISHING LOOMS, A SUPPORTING BRACKET HAVING A PNEUMATICALLY ANDSPRING CONTROLLED ROD MEMBER CARRIED THEREBY FOR MOVING SAID PARTING ANDCLAMPING MECHANISM TO AND AWAY FROM FILLING PARTING POSITION, SAIDDPARTING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM COMPRISING FIXED AND MOVABLE BLADEMEMBERS, MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID MOVABLE BLADE MEMBERS INCLUDING A CAMAND CAM FOLLOWER, PIVOTABLE LINK MEMBERS INTERCONNECTING SAID CAMFOLLOWER WITH SAID MOVABLE BLADE MEMBERS, SAID CAM BEING EFFECTIVE UPONSAID CAM FOLLOWER DURING THE INTITIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ROD TO OPEN SAIDMOVABLE BLADE MEMBERS BY MEANS OF SAID PIVOTABLE LINK MEMBERS, A CAMBUMPER AND A SECOND CAM EFFECTIVE UPON SAID LINK MEMBERS THROUGH CONTACTWITH SAID CAM BUMPER TO CLOSE SAID MOVABLE BLADE MEMBERS AS SAID RODMEMBERR CONTINUEES TO MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF ITS INITIAL MOVEMENT.